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Football Officiating => National Federation Discussion => Topic started by: FLAHL on August 26, 2017, 07:52:51 AM

Title: Almost Had THE Play
Post by: FLAHL on August 26, 2017, 07:52:51 AM
We had a 7-7 tie with 25 seconds left in the game. B called TO and had one remaining. A was facing 3rd and 8 from their own 15. During the TO, the HL told me that B's coach intended to fair catch the punt and attempt a free kick!  A threw deep on 3rd down and B intercepted, so there was no punt, no fair catch, and no free kick.

Still had a great opener.  14-13 in OT.
Title: Re: Almost Had THE Play
Post by: prab on August 26, 2017, 12:49:07 PM
You were closer to having THE play than most of us have ever been or are ever likely to be.  So close, yet so far away!
Title: Re: Almost Had THE Play
Post by: AlUpstateNY on August 26, 2017, 07:31:54 PM
A reminder caution.  After a Fair Catch, a has the option to start play with a snap, or free kick.  Should A choose a snap, and run a play in which B fouls (live ball) A retains the option to put the ball in play, after enforcement of the penalty, by either free kick or snap, from the succeeding spot which might well be a lot more attractive for trying a Field goal.
Title: Re: Almost Had THE Play
Post by: Jackhammer on August 26, 2017, 08:28:04 PM
5 or 6 years ago a playoff game.  Last 20 seconds or so of first half.  4th and long on about their own 15.  B calls timeout after the 3rd down stop.  Coach is having his conference on the field screaming at his guys, putting them in position telling them to fair catch.  I look at the coach and say, "so you're gonna fair catch."  He yells, "You betcha, everyone of these suckers is gonna fair catch and then we're gonna kick."  I smile and think here we go.  As A's coach breaks the huddle last thing he tells his kicker, smiles and calmly says, "remember, just kick it out of bounds."

Title: Re: Almost Had THE Play
Post by: prab on August 26, 2017, 09:40:12 PM
5 or 6 years ago a playoff game.  Last 20 seconds or so of first half.  4th and long on about their own 15.  B calls timeout after the 3rd down stop.  Coach is having his conference on the field screaming at his guys, putting them in position telling them to fair catch.  I look at the coach and say, "so you're gonna fair catch."  He yells, "You betcha, everyone of these suckers is gonna fair catch and then we're gonna kick."  I smile and think here we go.  As A's coach breaks the huddle last thing he tells his kicker, smiles and calmly says, "remember, just kick it out of bounds."

+1 to A's coach, whoever he might be.
Title: Re: Almost Had THE Play
Post by: J12 on August 27, 2017, 07:58:39 AM
As a fan, I got as far as seeing a team actually declare for the fair catch kick and actually line up to do so.  This was at the end of the first half.  But then they had second thoughts -- it would have been a 60 yard attempt -- and changed their mind.  They took the delay of game penalty and then sent the offense out and ran a scrimmage play to end the half. 

Before the fair catch -- with A punting from their own goal line -- I was yelling from the stands for B to fair catch it.  And, of course, the people sitting near me where looking at me strange wondering why someone would be rooting for a fair catch.  Then they saw -- well, they almost saw.